Climate Connection: We’re In This Together
Sitkans!
The Climate Connections column has been bringing you news and information from all over the place, and focusing on how it might affect us. Today we’re asking you to think about ways that you will be affected by drier summers, hotter winters, and less of our subsistence foods. What are you seeing that troubles you? What is bringing you joy to see happening in our community? What ways are you finding to support a safer climate for the humans, animals and plants that we care most about? Is there something you would like to know more about? Do you have ideas for what we can do as a community or a society to make sure that our children and grandchildren can enjoy what we ourselves have had as children? Don’t be shy! Send 150 to 300 words to the Sitka Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby at sitkaclimatelobby@gmail.com. Make sure you give us your name and contact details so that we can talk to you about what you’d like everyone to hear, see, or do to save our world as we know it.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading and for doing what you do to be a climate citizen! We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Leah, Barb, Lisa and Libby - volunteers with Sitka’s Citizens Climate Lobby
(Climate Connections editorial collective)
Sitka Half-Century Ride,
Fixit Station, Set Aug. 24
The Sitka Cycling Club will host its inaugural Sitka Half-Century Ride Saturday, Aug. 24.
Shorter rides are available for those not up for riding 50 miles.
Riders should meet at 9 a.m. by the traffic light at Lincoln and Lake streets to register and to attend a dedication ribbon-cutting for the new public Fixit bike repair station at the corner. The Fixit station is being donated to Sitka cyclists by CRW Engineering Group of Anchorage. Brian Looney will be in town representing CRW.
Charlie Lowell and Scott Menzies of the Susitna Bicycle Institute in Anchorage, who will be in town that week teaching bike maintenance classes and helping Sitka start a bike co-op, will demonstrate how to use the tools at the new Fixit station 9:10-9:25 a.m., and the Fixit station dedication ceremony takes place at 9:25 a.m.
The rides start at 9:30 a.m., and they include a family ride to Whale Park and back to town (about seven miles), a ride to Blue Lake and back (about 15 miles), a ride to Green Lake and back (about 30 miles), and the whole ride of 50 miles (which includes a ride to Starrigavan after the ride to Green Lake). A map of the ride is shown on the event flier. The ride is free, but participants are asked to sign a liability waiver and to wear bike helmets.
For more information, contact Doug Osborne at douglaso@searhc.org or 738-8734.
‘Much Ado’ Selected
For Shakespeare
SCT Table Read
Sitka Community Theater will host a table read of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Rasmuson Center.
“No acting experience required - we’ll divvy up parts on the spot and read as far as we can in two hours,” organizers said. Donuts provided. Donations accepted. The Rasmuson Center is located next to the SJ Museum on the Sitka Fine Arts Camp campus. SCT is part of the Greater Sitka Arts Council.
Those with questions can call Shannon at 738-0602.
Doll-Making
Class Scheduled
At SJ Museum
The Sheldon Jackson Museum will host a traditional Cup’ik doll-making class with artist-in-residence Neva Mathias (Cup’ik).
Students will create a traditional Cup’ik-style doll using hide and fur. The class is free, but students must register in advance, and need to acquire materials on their own in advance of the class.
The six-part class is scheduled 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. Aug. 29, Sept. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. On Sept 7, students should plan to take part in an informal public presentation in which the class and Mathias will present the dolls they made.
Students can register by calling the museum at 747-8981 or at the museum. Students will be provided a short list of materials. Some of the materials will need to be ordered, so signing up as early as possible is recommended.
Mathias first began making baskets in 1979. By 1985, she was practicing her art form in expert fashion. She learned from her mother how to make baskets and dolls and how to prepare the raw materials to make them. Her dolls, which she makes during the winter months, are made from seal fur, seal skin, kuspuk materials and fur. Her grasses for basketry, made during the summer while she is at fish camp, are collected from the beaches of Hooper Bay.
She will be in residence at the Sheldon Jackson Museum Aug. 22- Sept. 12, teaching and creating at the museum most days 10 a.m.-noon and 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. To find out more, call 747-8981.
The Alaska Native Artist Residency Program is sponsored by the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum and made possible with the support of the National Geographic Lex-NG Fund, which funded the program in 2018 and 2019, the National Endowment for the Arts, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Arts Southeast Inc., other local arts organizations, volunteers, and the general public. Those interested in supporting the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program can call 747-6233 or visit www.friendsofsjm.com.
Back-to-School
Supply Drive Set
Local businesses are sponsoring a school supply drive for Baranof and Keet Gooshi Heen elementary schools Aug. 6-22.
‘‘Help kids in our community start the school year off right by equipping them with the supplies they need to have a successful school year,’’ a press release from organizers said.
Principals Jill Lecrone and Casey Demmert have provided a list of the most-needed items, such as Crayola crayons, Crayola skinny markers, colored pencils, #2 pencils, baby wipes, tissues and hand sanitizer.
Items can be dropped off at Sea Mart Grocery, AC Lakeside, Ben Franklin, and the Alaska Computer Center and Office Supply through Aug. 22. Monetary donations also are being collected.
For information contact Amy at 738-2570 or email sitkaschoolsupplies@gmail.com.
Fiber Friends
Meet Saturday
Fiber Friends will meet noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Gus Adams room of the Sitka Public Library.
Weavers, spinners, dyers and others who work with fibers are welcome. For information phone Alice at 747-3931.
